Melanie Amaral
About Melanie:
Inspired by the art movements of the early 20th century, Melanie Amaral distills what is timeless and essential from this shared visual history and combines it with cutting edge developments in modern design. Through this whimsical process, she creates art that is at once familiar and fresh, challenging and playful.
A native of the Seattle area, Melanie has lived and worked in several countries over the course of her career, picking up new influences and techniques along the way. She is a versatile artist, able to mimic any style and at home in a wide range of media, from pen and ink, to digital animation, sculpture, and large scale figurative painting.
In her spare time she enjoys restoring antique furniture, exploring unfamiliar places, and losing at chess.
Melanie is the current Lead Digital Artist in Residence in THE Studio at Grand Image.
Grand Image: How did you get your start in art?
MA: I’ve loved art since a young age, but I didn’t know any artists, so it seemed impossible to me that I could do it for a living. I did small commissions in college while I got my degree in linguistics, but it wasn’t until after school that I started doing serious commissions and discovered that not only was it possible to earn a living as an artist, but that it was also a lot of fun!
Grand Image: How did you develop your style?
MA: Style is a weird thing. I feel like it sort of develops on its own. I’ve always had a special love of early 20th century printmaking and illustration, as well as the art of the Middle Ages. While I’m sure these traditions exert a subtle influence over my work, at heart I’m a curious person who is constantly seeking out novelty. I’m sensitive to modern trends and love trying out new styles to see how they work.
Grand Image: Where are you from and how is that reflected in your work?
MA: I’ve lived all over the world, but I’m first and foremost a Pacific Northwesterner. I think it shows up in my work in different ways. There’s a type of natural beauty that’s specific to western Washington that seeps into my art unconsciously. It’s distinct from the postcard cliches of evergreen trees and snowy mountains. There’s a lush, smoky dampness to the PNW that’s very nostalgic for me. I find myself returning to it again and again in my personal work.
On a more abstract level, there’s a kind of outlook I associate with the PNW. A kind of playfulness, a willingness to experiment, and an ability to laugh at oneself, which I very much identify with.
Grand Image: How has your relationship with art changed the way you view the world?
MA: For me, art is a way of breaking down and trying to understand the visible world. Similar to a kid taking apart and reassembling a radio to see how it works. How do images create the emotional responses they do? How can I use colors and shapes to take feelings and thoughts from my head and put them into yours? If I tweak some small element of the composition, how is the effect on the viewer different? It’s a mysterious and hidden world that I find endlessly fascinating.
Grand Image: What was the inspiration behind your “Beasts of Eden” series?
MA: Beasts of Eden grew out of a desire to make a series that was playful and naïve, but also sophisticated. Something that could work in a wide variety of spaces. It took me a few tries to find a style I liked. I happened on the intricate felt marker texture almost by accident and I love how much visual interest it adds, especially considering that each animal can scale up to 6 feet tall.
Grand Image: You work in several mediums. What is special about each to you and how do they inform each other?
MA: Digital illustration is my comfort zone, for sure. It’s easier to take risks knowing you can always punch that undo command. That being said, I also love physical media! You have to be willing to surrender a little control, but nothing is as satisfying as a happy accident that looks beautiful on canvas or paper. Sometimes I’ll plan something out digitally and then execute it on canvas. It’s always instructive to see how the final product deviates from the plan.
Grand Image: What has been your favorite project with Grand Image? Why?
MA: This is really hard! I’ve done so many different types of projects that I love for all kinds of reasons. A recent one that comes to mind is the series of 3 large-scale paintings of famous musicians I did for a hotel in Oregon. I enjoyed getting away from the computer screen and creating something physical. It’s fun to throw paint around! Plus I think they turned out pretty neat…
Grand Image: What does your artwork say about you as a person?
MA: I can’t speak for my audience, but I would hope my work gives people the impression that I am a curious person with wide-ranging interests who doesn’t take herself too seriously.
Grand Image: If you could have your artwork hung anywhere in the world, where would you like that to be and why?
MA: The Cluny Museum in Paris is one of my favorite places. It’s a little jewel of a medieval art museum in the heart of the Latin Quarter. Cluny curators- if you’re reading this, and I assume you are- please let me do a small exhibition of medieval-inflected modern art!
Grand Image: What is your favorite way to implement self care?
MA: I don't do enough self care, that's for sure! But whenever I need a little break from life, I like to wander in nature or do meditative domestic tasks. Or hang out with friends and find silly topics to have passionate arguments about.
Grand Image: Do you choose to stay on top of current trends? If so, how? If not, why not?
MA: I try to maintain a pretty diverse media diet, more for my own curiosity than for any professional purpose. I'm sensitive to trends in the art world and I'm conscious of them when I'm creating work for clients. Trends can be fickle, so it's important to ensure that what I create looks current, but in such a way that it won't look dated a few years down the line. It's a delicate balance.
Grand Image: What is your current source of inspiration?
MA: Antique folk furniture painting and azulejo tiles.
Grand Image: What advice would you give someone starting out as an artist?
MA: I would say don't worry too much about coming up with your own personal style. It'll be shaped organically over time by your influences and your limitations. That said, never let yourself get too comfortable. Stay curious and always be pushing yourself out of your comfort zone!
Grand Image: Talk to me about the beloved “bear wall” in the Seattle showroom. How did you come up with the design?
MA: The bear toile was a request from our sales team for a fun pattern that represented the various roles at GI. I had a great time collaborating with all of the departments to get inspiration for the poses and settings. The little details still make me chuckle.
